Call for Submissions — RGD Branding Awards 2026

Celebrating the best in brand identity design from across the globe.

Social Good Awards

The Social Good Awards category recognizes brand and identity design projects that reflect design’s ability to create a better world.

Select this option in the entry form if your submission qualifies.

The So(cial) Good Design Awards was previously its own awards program. It has now been folded into the RGD Branding Awards.

Arts & Culture

This category recognizes design projects that aid in the promotion of art and artists from sound, stage, and screen, from exhibition halls to public spaces. Examples include, but are not limited to, work done for museums or other cultural institutions, artists, artwork and work that inspires or celebrates artistic creation.

Civil & Human Rights

This category recognizes design projects that aim to protect, defend and advance all people's political and social freedoms and equality, especially among groups that have been historically under-represented and underserved. Examples include, but are not limited to, projects that promote and protect the rights and freedoms of individuals and groups or projects address systemic structural and interpersonal inequities. This may include democracy, civic engagement, freedom of the press, religion and equal justice under the law.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

This category recognizes design projects that support, protect, represent and uplift underrepresented groups of people. Examples include, but are not limited to, initiatives that promote inclusivity, accessibility and equity for people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and create collaborative, supportive and respectful environments. Can also include ways we use design to reach the broadest possible audience, particularly those with disabilities.

Education

This category recognizes design projects that support learning and self-improvement. Examples include, but are not limited to, projects supporting the work of schools, organizations, families and communities to improve educational success inside and outside the classroom and work that helps make learning more effective and accessible to students of all backgrounds including adult education, early childhood programs and first-generation students.

Health, Well-being & Safety

This category recognizes design projects that raise awareness, fundraise, and/or research for particular health risks, diseases, or conditions and/or promote fitness and health. Examples include, but are not limited to, efforts that promote exercise, nutrition, mindfulness, mental health, public health, reproductive health, etc. and work done for organizations or programs in the healthcare field.

Humanitarian Action & Services

This category recognizes design projects that focus on the prevention and relief of human suffering. Examples include, but are not limited to, work that addresses ongoing systemic issues that hinder economic, institutional and social development in any given society, or programs designed to save lives and alleviate suffering.

Sustainability, Ecology & Climate

This category recognizes design projects that focus on environmental conservation, improvement of the state of the environment and the conditions of all living things. Examples include, but are not limited to, projects that support the research, development or implementation of new technology, projects that reduce negative impacts on the environment, help support the energy and climate needs of future generations and/or raise awareness of the protection and rights of animals and plants.

Cross-Category

This category recognizes design projects with broad impact that bridge multiple realms of social good. Examples include, but are not limited to, projects that support a wide range of non-profit organizations rather than clients in a single industry.

Integrated Awards

The Integrated Awards recognize branding projects that bring together multiple elements into a unified, cohesive identity system. These awards are for work that goes beyond a single deliverable, where strategy, visual language, and execution come together across touchpoints to define how a brand shows up in the world.

Subcategories include sweeping Branding Programs, Brand Identity work for both new and existing brands, and Branded Campaigns that extend a brand's voice across diverse channels. If your project tells a complete brand story and not just a single piece of it, this is the right category.

Branding Programs

A combination of multiple branded material/channels into a cohesive program (e.g. collateral, signage, website, social media and more). This award includes a sweeping design system for a given brand identity.

Brand Identity — New Brand

Identities for brands that did not previously exist (e.g. Identity guides or brand strategy guides). This award goes to brands designed from scratch: a fresh company or a completely fresh identity.

Brand Identity — Rebrand/Refresh

New or updated identities for existing brands. This category includes entries that reflect on a brand's present identity and push it forward with a new take on the design. (Images of the original brand may be provided but are not required.)

Branded Campaign

Advertising and marketing campaigns with a unique and memorable brand and cohesive visual approach across a variety of material/channels.

Element Awards

The Element Awards recognize the craft and impact of individual brand components, the singular pieces that make an identity distinctive. Where Integrated Awards celebrate whole systems, Element Awards celebrate the details: the logo that stops you in your tracks, the packaging that earns its place on the shelf, the motion piece that brings a brand to life.

Categories span the full range of brand expression: Logo/Wordmark, Packaging, Environmental/Experiential, Digital, Print, Motion, UX, Service Design, and Other. Whether your work lives on a screen, a surface, or in a space, there's a home for it here.

Logo/Wordmark

Any graphic mark, emblem, symbol or abstract/figurative representing an organization, product, event and beyond.

Packaging

Functional design that holds any product or allows for that product to be travelled with/protected/contained.

Environmental / Experiential

Designs that address our surroundings. It can include branded spaces such as events, hospitality, pop-up environments, retail and workspaces. (Sponsored by Minoh)

Digital

Any design that uses technology, data and digital platforms to communicate a brand identity through the creative and visual execution of digital brand elements. It can include websites, apps, social media, XR and more.

Print

Any printed initiative that communicates a brand identity. It can include stationary, catalogues, calendars, collateral material and more.

Motion

Any design that uses animation or filmmaking to enhance a brand identity. It can include commercials, explainer videos and more.

UX

Any design that shapes how users interact with a brand across digital or hybrid experiences. It can include websites, apps, platforms and interaction systems.

Service Design

Design of end-to-end service experiences across physical, digital and human touchpoints. It can include customer journeys, service ecosystems and multi-channel service systems.

Other

Any elements of a brand that live outside the present categories. This might include clothing or other branded merchandise, a custom typeface, an award and more.

Best in Show

Best in Show is the highest honour at the RGD Branding Awards, awarded to the most outstanding submission in each division. These awards recognize creative excellence regardless of project type or category, evaluated across the full field of Integrated and Element entries.

Divisions are defined by the size and type of the studio or client organization, ensuring that standout work from solo practitioners, students, small studios, large agencies, non-profits, and institutions is recognized on equal footing. The best work wins, no matter the size of the team behind it.

Large Creative Agency/Business

Work by and/or for a for-profit company where either the creative agency and/or the client comprises more than 50 employees.

Medium Creative Agency/Business

Work by and/or for a for-profit company where either the creative agency and/or the client comprises 12–50 employees.

Small Creative Agency/Business

Work by and/or for a for-profit company where either the creative agency and/or the client comprises less than 12 employees.

Non-Profit/Institution/Government

Work by or for a non-profit organization, or governmental body, agency or department that comprises more than 25 employees.

Small Non-Profit/Institution/Government

Work by or for a non-profit organization, or governmental body, agency or department that comprises less than 6 employees.

Solo

Work by solo business owners and freelance designers.

Student

Work by individuals currently enrolled in a recognized post-secondary educational institution.

Why enter?

If your work is selected by the judges as a Branding Award winner, you and your work will receive:

Recognition on the RGD website and across RGD’s other communication channels, reaching over 70,000 in the creative community.

Recognition in a printed Awards Annual.

Opportunity to attend an awards presentation during DesignThinkers 2026 and receive a printed Certificate.

Opportunity to purchase a physical award.

A 25% discount to attend DesignThinkers 2026 in Toronto.

Winners are contacted about opportunities to judge future RGD Awards, speak at events like DesignThinkers and contribute to the RGD newsletter, website and social media content.

* Professional RGD Members comprise Certified RGD, Associate RGD and Affiliate Members

** Team Members can email vanshika@rgd.ca to receive a discount code for their free entries.

All fees are listed in Canadian dollars and are subject to Ontario tax (13%)

Eligibility

Projects completed between June 1, 2021 and June 1, 2026, from anywhere in the world.

Additional details

Case studies submitted as part of a successful Certification application in 2026 can be entered into the Branding Awards for free, provided the Certification is completed by the entry deadline.

Entries submitted to the Branding Awards may also be eligible for the Social Good Awards. As the So(cial) Good Design Awards are currently on hold as a stand-alone program, the 2026 Branding Awards will incorporate categories that reflect the work typically recognised through the Social Good Awards.

Submission Information

As part of the entry form, you will be asked to provide the following:

1-8 Project Files

Files must be smaller than 30 MB. High-resolution files will be requested for winning entries. File type can be jpg, png, gif, pdf, mov or mp4.

Context

Describe the project goals and objectives, audience and any restrictions or special considerations directly related to the project goals. (Max. 250 words)

Design Process

Describe the process for the development of this project. Outline any research, analysis or other information gathering and investigation that contributed to the final results. (Max. 250 words)

Solution

Describe your deliverables and how they achieved project goals and objectives, engaged or served their audiences as intended and addressed unforeseen or unexpected challenges. (Max. 250 words)

For more information and details related to submissions, please visit our FAQ page.

RGD Branding Awards 2026

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